The fact that the government should be surprised that the House of Commons should deliver an overwhelming and historic vote in favour of a wholly-elected House of Lords is an indictment of our times and a shame on the traditions of the Labour Party. The House of Lords as an institution has always represented an archaic layer of British pomp, privilege and patronage that Labour should have abolished a long time ago, just like it said it would. That’s why politicians were embarrassed to be heard arguing for anything other than a fully elected House of Lords. Tony Blair and Jack Straw should be rightly ashamed that at the same time as they go into Iraq preaching the need for full democracy, that they are trying to reform the House of Lords in their own country, with a system that would still see 50 per cent of them simply appointed by the Prime Minister. After nearly 100 years, the House of Commons has at last taken the momentous step to reform the upper house and make it fit for a modern democracy. This should be applauded but when you have been in power for a while, got comfortable with the establishment and rubbed ermine-fringed shoulders with those and such as those then maybe you forget that the thing you went into politics for was to uphold the democratic rights of us all. Of course, Britain’s upper house has not had legislative powers and has been there to simply offer an often valuable and independent role which runs checks and balances and pulls an out of control government back into line with the authority of a respected elder but its undemocratic nature flies in the face of what socialism should be all about. That’s why one of our most loved politicians, who people from all political parties cite as an inspiration, Tony Benn, spent years trying to absolve himself of his hereditary peerage. There is no doubt that over the years, the Lords has given us some interesting and independent characters but if ever there was need for doubt about how and why it exists then the cash-for-honours affair offers that in spades. It has exposed the fact that even a Labour government, when push comes to shove, will resort to embracing the dazzle of elitism and that once they have run out of other favours to dole out, the lure of the upper house can always be dangled as a tempting tit bit. The Scottish Parliament does not have a second chamber, although it was something that was discussed when the whole constitutional question was being looked at. What it does have is a committee structure, which was meant to afford the same checks and balances. However, as time goes by, the committees are increasingly seen as toothless, with recommendations rarely being acted upon, debate stifled and little dent being made in the legislative process. While Westminster resonates to the sound of smug politicians who, for once in the last wee while, have done the right thing, perhaps our own MSPs should look at our own parliament and make sure we use our committee structure for the purpose it was put there for, and by democratic means. Now that would be worth lording over Westminster.

Tag it:

Mandy Rhodes
		About the author:
		Managing Editor
	Read More >>

Related news items:

• Alex Salmond wins First Minister vote
• AM call for Welsh Sewel convention
• Anti-Bullying Campaign announced
• Audit Scotland budget approved
• Blair leaves office with better ratings than Thatcher